Medical helicopter crashes in Quebec lake, leaving four missing.

🛩️ What Happened

• On Friday evening near Natashquan, Quebec (on the North Shore), an Airmedic medical evacuation helicopter carrying five people — four crew members and one patient — crashed into Watshishou Lake shortly after takeoff, around 10:30 p.m., during a mission involving five people—four Airmedic crew members and one patient. The aircraft, serving a critical-care emergency role, was en route when it suddenly disappeared from radar.
• One crew member managed to escape the wreckage; they suffered non-life-threatening injuries, were rescued, and are now receiving support and psychological care. However, four others remain missing, prompting a massive multi-agency search and rescue operation.

🔍 Search & Rescue Efforts

• Multiple agencies are involved:
• Sûreté du Québec dispatched underwater divers.
• The Royal Canadian Air Force contributed with CC-130 Hercules and CH-149 Cormorant aircraft and search-and-rescue technicians
• Canadian Armed Forces and provincial resources provided ground, air, and water support

Despite these “extensive” efforts, by Monday four individuals remained missing, and both the helicopter and missing passengers have yet to be located

🚨 Company & Investigation

• Following the crash, Airmedic announced it was temporarily suspending all operations to focus entirely on supporting the families of those involved and its staff. In a public statement, the company emphasized its commitment to cooperating fully with investigators and providing mental health resources to employees.
• The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), alongside provincial police and Quebec’s occupational health & safety authority, has launched a formal investigation into the crash. The TSB is collaborating closely with the Sûreté du Québec and Quebec’s occupational health and safety board to assess possible mechanical failure, human error, environmental factors, or operational procedures.

🌍 Location & Context

• The crash occurred in Watshishou Lake, a remote body of water situated near Natashquan, approximately 1,000 kilometers northeast of Montreal in Quebec’s Côte-Nord region. The area is known for its rugged terrain and limited accessibility, making search operations particularly complex. This geographic remoteness adds urgency to the mission, with responders racing against time and weather conditions to locate the missing.

Summary of The Events

• Time of Crash: Confirmed as approximately 10:30 p.m. local time on Friday. Important to include local time and date.
• Passengers on Board: Total of 5 people: 4 crew (pilot, medical staff) and 1 patient. Specific roles of crew can be added if released.
• Rescue Update: Emphasize that only one person has been rescued with minor injuries. Four remain missing as of the latest update.
• Search Resources: Mention all agencies involved: Sûreté du Québec, Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Armed Forces. Highlight air, land, and water efforts.
• Investigation: The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is leading. Include mention of occupational health & safety agencies and Quebec police.
• Operator Status: Airmedic voluntarily suspended operations to support families and employees. This shows their crisis response and internal focus.

What Comes Next

• The immediate priority remains the search and recovery of the missing individuals and the aircraft itself. As the investigation unfolds, authorities will be examining every aspect of the incident, including weather conditions at the time, pilot experience, flight instruments, and maintenance logs.
• The TSB’s investigation will likely explore mechanical systems, weather conditions, pilot operations, and potential spatial disorientation — given similar past incidents in the region
• Airmedic has pledged support for families, crew, and employees affected.

Sources

Global News

• Quebec helicopter crash: 4 missing as search continues
• Details on crash time, passengers, search efforts, and investigation.

CityNews Montreal

• Airmedic suspends operations after Quebec helicopter crash leaves four missing
• Updates on Airmedic’s operational pause and investigation agencies involved.

Coast Reporter / The Canadian Press

• Four missing after Airmedic helicopter crash in northeastern Quebec
• Source for geographic context and agencies assisting in the rescue.

Aviation24.be

• Four missing after air ambulance helicopter crash in Quebec
• Details on aircraft type and timing of incident.